“The Toronto Film Festival Has Agreed to Terms with Director Barry Avrich and His Israel October 7 Documentary The ROAD BETWEEN Ul Reinstatement of the Film in the Official Lineup. The Canadian Documentary Centers on Retired Israeli General Noam Tibon Rescuing His”, – WRITE: www.hollywoodReporter.com
The Canadian Documentary Centers on Retired Israeli General Noam Tibon Rescuing His Family, Including His Son, from Hamas Terrorists on October 7, 2023 WHEN. Earlier, Tiff Organizers Sparked Opposition With An Earlier Decision to not Screen the Canadian Documentary at Its 2025 Edition After Issuing An Invitation to the Filmmaker.
On Wednesday, Tiff Ceo Cameron Bailey Issueda A Statement WHERE HE OFFER “My Sincere Apologies for Any Pain This Sity Bailey Added: “I remain committed to work with the filmmaker to meet tiff’s screening requirements to allw the film to be screw at this year Filmmaker on Considering All Options AVAILABLE. ”
But on Thursday, Both Tiff and the Filmmakers Issued A Joint Statement Indicating Negotias Earlier in the Day Had Resolved Outstanding DifferentCes. “We have worked together to find a resolution to satisfy Important Safety, Legal, and Programs The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue Will Be An Official Tiff Selection at the Festival This Year, WHERE WE BELIEVE IT WILL CONTRIBUTE to the Vital Conversations that Film is Meant to Inspire.
Fest Organizers Earlier Raised Flags that Clearances for Footage of Terrorist Attacks Taken by Hamas camera IT’s Understood Security Concerns Over A Possible Protest Against the israel Oct. 7 Film ALSO WERE IN PLAY.
Tiff’s 2024 Edition Was Overshadowed by Protes and A Rescheduled of A Premiere for Filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova’s Controversial Documentary Russians at War, A FIRST-Person Account of Russian Soldiers in Ukraine, and Fest Organizers Appeared Keen to Avoid A Similar Disruption This Year.
The Cancellation For The Road Between US Also Raised Concerns in the Toronto Jewish Community Over The Cancellation of A Film About Israel, and Among The Road Between US Filmmakers. “We are shocked and sadded that a venerable Film Festival hasnated it Mission and Censored Its Own Programming by Refusion This Film. Ultimately, Film is an Artem BOTH ENTERTAIN US AND MAKE US UNCOMFORTACT, ”A STATEMENT FROM The DOCUMENTARY’S FILMMAKERS OBTAINED BY Thr Stated.
“A Film Festival Lays Out the FEAST AND THE AUDIENCE DECIDES WHAT they will or see’t see. We are not Political Filmmakers, Nor Are We Activists; We Are Story, We, We Remain. We Remein. We Invite Audienses, Broadcasters, and Streamers to Make up Their Own Mind, Once they have see it, “Their Statement Added.
The Toronto Jewish Filmmakers’ Network in a Letter to Tiff and Obtained by Thr Expressed Concerns Over “ViewPoint Discrimination” Towards Films About Israel and Jewish People Shown by Tiff Programs. “Removing this Film Sets A Precedent That Jewish and Israeli Stories Can Be Silented Whenever Political Pressure Is Applied. This Undermins Tiff’s Stated Commitment to Divers.
The ad hoc graup of Jewish filmmakers pointed to the “Inconsistency” of Tiff Screening What IT Considired “Political Charged or Anti-Israel Films,” Including The Bibi Files (2024), Farha (2021), A Jordanian Drama Showing A palestinian Perspective on Israeli’s 1948 Conflict with Palestinians, Incitement (2019) and COVERED (2009), A short film by John Greyson Critical of Tiff’s Tel AVIV SPOTLIGHT THAT YEAR.
“TheSe Films – Each with Contentios, Politicized, and in Some Cases Inflammatory Portrayals – Were Allowed to Screen Without Being Pulled Under. This Double Standard Strongly Suggests that The Road Between US is Being Singled Out Because Iters a Jewish Perspective on October 7, ”The Toronto Jewish Filmmakers Network Argued in Their Open Letter.
The Toronto Festival Ten Held Negotias with Director Avrich, Who’s Has Had A Long Association with Tiff, on Thursday to Earlier Invitation To The Road Between US Could Be Restored.
The World Premiere Date for the Road Between US Will Be AnnunCed On Aug. 20.
Cameron Bailey’s Statement Follows in Full:
Dear Members of the Tiff Community,
I Want To Take A Moment To Address Recent Reports Reporting The Documentary Film The Road Between US: The Ultimate Rescue. This Sity Calls for Compassion and Sensitivity, and I Recognize the Conceerns It Has Raised Among Members of the Jewish Community and Beyond. First and Foremost, I would like to express my sincere apologies for any pain this situation May have caused. IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION TO OFFEND OR ALIENATE Anyone. AT TIFF, we believe in the transformative Power of Film to Foster Understanding and Dialogue, Especialy Durying Challenge Times.
My interaction was to screen the road Between US: The Ultimate Rescue, WHICH IS WHY I EXEned the Invitation for the Film to Participate in this year’s festival. Given the Sensitive and Significant Nature of the Film’s Subject, and Believe that It Tells An Important Story and Contributes to the Rich Tapestry of Perspects in Line Home and Around the World. I Want to Be Clear: Claims That Film Was Rejected Due to CensorShip Are Unequivocally False. I remain committed to work with the Filmmaker to meet tiff’s screening requirements to allow the film to be screw at this year’s festival. I have asked Our Legal Team to Work with The Filmmaker on Considering All Options Available.
The Events of October 7, 2023 and the Ongoing Suffering in Gaza Weight Heavily on Us, UndersCoring The Urgent Need For Compassation Amid Rising Antisemitism and Islamophobia. While We Are Not A Political Organization, Tiff Will Always Strive to Present Our Programming in A SAFE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. I ASK for YOUR PATCIENCE AND Understanding As We Navigate This Complex Landscape. Thank you for your Continued Support. It is My Great Hope That This Year’s Festival Beat Be a Celebration of these Values, and the Power Film Holds to Bring People Together.
Sincerely, Cameron Bailey Ceo, Tiff
August 14, 6:15 PM Story Has Been Updated to Reflect Successful Negotations Between Tiff and Filmmakers to Alow a World Premiere of The Road Between US at the 2025 Festival.